Rail-joint.



PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

M. LGPPRIGH. RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1904.

H0 MODEL.

U TTED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,936, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed uary 16,1904. Serial No. 189,325. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN LorrRIoH, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rail-joints, and has for its object the provision of novel means whereby a joint is produced wherein the use of nuts and bolts are entirely dispensed with.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rail-joint which will be extremely simple in construction, strong, durable, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and highly efficient in its use.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arragement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure l is a perspective view showing two sections of rails joined together with my improved joint. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the interlocking fish-plates. Fig. 4: is a similar view of the opposite fishplates. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are vertical sectional views of the interlocking fish-plates. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one of the springpressed locking-pawls. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the key.

In the drawings the reference-numerals 1 represent the rails, having formed therein suitable openings through the web thereof.

2 represents a male fish-plate, having formed integral therewith projecting lugs 3, carrying at their ends the wedge-shaped portions 4, these projecting lugs 3 being adapted to extend through the openings formed in the web of the rails and be received in the ways 5, communicating with the elongated recess 6, formed in the inner face of the female fish plate 7. Spring pressed lockingpawls 8 are also arranged within depressed portions formed in said female member 7 and carry shafts 9, having formed square ends 10, the shaft 9 eX- tending through the body of the fish-plate and the square end 10 projecting from the outer face of the fish-plate, these square ends being adapted to receive the removable key 11, by which the locking-pawls are released from engagement with the lugs 53.

The reference-numeral 12 represents a retractile spring which is secured within the recess and is adapted to bear against the locking-pawl 8. j

The operation of my improved rail-joint is as follows: The fish-plate 2 is inserted through the web of the rail, and then the fish-plate 7 is secured upon the lugs 3, sliding the same longitudinally of the base until the locking-pawls engage the keys and securely lock the same in position. WVhen it is desired to unlock the rails, the key 11 is .placed over the square end 10 and operated to raise the locking-pawl. The engaging end of the same is released from the lugs 8, thereby permitting the fish-plate to be longitudinally moved in the recess 6 to a point where the lugs 3 may be seated within the way 5, permitting the same to be released.

The many advantages obtained by the use of my improved device will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

It will be noted that various slight changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rail -joint, the combination of the rails, a fish-plate carrying integral lugs, acorresponding fish-plate having a recess and ways formed therein to receive said lugs, and locking-pawls arranged within the latter fish-plate, and means for operating said pawls, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a rail -joint, the combination of the rails, a fish-plate carrying integral lugs extending through said rails, a corresponding fishplate having ways formed therein, pawls secured in said latter fish-plate, and a removable key whereby said pawls are operated, snbstantially as described.

MARTIN LOPPRIOH. Witnesses H. C. EVERT, JOHN GROETZINGER. 

